25th Annual

The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival, is the premier American showcase for vocal harmony music. The annual national competition draws from hundreds of vocal groups from around the country with regional competitions in eight cities. The winning group from each festival is flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals.

Love Notes - (the artists formerly known as UnderAge) are a group of four young ladies (ages 18-21) singing a cappella 4-part harmony, mostly in the barbershop style. They have been working, competing, and performing together for six years. They have had performing opportunities beyond their years. As UnderAge they became the 2005 International quartet champions for the Young Women in Harmony division of the Sweet Adelines organization. As champions, they have been guest performers all over the country from Oregon to Detroit to Rhode Island. They have shared the stage with the Kingston Trio, sung the National Anthem for numerous professional sporting teams, participated in America's Got Talent in both Los Angelas and Las Vegas, and were guest performers in Germany this last Spring for BING (Barbershop in Germany) festival. LoveNotes also performs for numerous local events throughout the year. As of 2008 they have matured into young ladies over 18 hence the name change to LoveNotes which expresses their love of music. They are exploring numerous a cappella styles which they very much enjoy. They are very commited to excellence in their craft and hope you enjoy them.

2009 Participating Groups

Akabella - is a world fusion vocal group dedicated to learning, sharing and performing traditional songs from around the world. Their original arrangements of ancient melodies borrow from Reggae, Hip Hop, R&B and Jazz. When combined with traditional rhythms and five-part harmony, the effect is pure inspiration. AkaBella moves people with their voices and audiences emerge dancing, clapping and singing along.

After Five - Adding a new and enthusiastic face to the a cappella crowd, After Five is a high-energy contemporary group based out of Weed, California's College of the Siskiyous. Mixing and matching six of the top 30 or 40 vocal talents from around the region, This dynamic sextet's originality and devotion to the art of music is sure to tickle any audience's musical taste buds.

His Juliet - His Juliet is a group of girls who grew up together in Northern California. Their country roots and love for the sierra foothills, as well as each other, has strongly influenced their unique style and blending ability. Their passion for life and for singing is heard and felt through their songs and unique harmonies therein.

Members:Cara Wilbur, Alisa McVicker, Kelsia Wilbur

House Blend - HouseBlend is an a cappella male quartet performing its own pop, jazz, seasonal, folk, country, gospel and other assorted musical genres. The members of the group met through the music ministry at Concord United Methodist Church. As they sang together, they realized something special was developing. In 1998, HouseBlend was born. Almost immediately, they were in demand to sing at various occasions in the area. Their repertoire expanded with each performance, their style emerged and their sleek presentation unfolded.

Members:Jim McGuire, Bill DeGarmo, Kent Parr, Doug Emigh

Rat Trio - Did you grow up on television? Why yes, you did! And so did we. Please sit closer to the screen. Your mother was wrong. This is the show that she  and the networks  don’t want you to see. We’ve removed the V-chip for tonight’s episode  lucky you. We’ve watched it all for you. Now there’s only one channel  we are all that is on.

Members:Gwen McElwee won’t leave her trailer, but on TV she plays a desperate and lonely woman without a life. Sam Rogers is a musical stunt double. Tim Lukaszewski and his TV are inseparable.

Love Notes - (the artists formerly known as UnderAge) are a group of four young ladies (ages 18-21) singing a cappella 4-part harmony, mostly in the barbershop style. They have been working, competing, and performing together for six years. They have had performing opportunities beyond their years. As UnderAge they became the 2005 International quartet champions for the Young Women in Harmony division of the Sweet Adelines organization. As champions, they have been guest performers all over the country from Oregon to Detroit to Rhode Island. They have shared the stage with the Kingston Trio, sung the National Anthem for numerous professional sporting teams, participated in America's Got Talent in both Los Angelas and Las Vegas, and were guest performers in Germany this last Spring for BING (Barbershop in Germany) festival. LoveNotes also performs for numerous local events throughout the year. As of 2008 they have matured into young ladies over 18 hence the name change to LoveNotes which expresses their love of music. They are exploring numerous a cappella styles which they very much enjoy. They are very commited to excellence in their craft and hope you enjoy them.

Musaic - Musaic's goal is to share beautiful and compelling men's a cappella singing with our Bay Area community at the highest level of musical excellence. We have been singing for audiences for nine years, and our members are passionate about the beauty of men's ensemble singing. Our music is rooted in classical choral traditions, but our repertoire explores a wide range of styles and genres, including folk, world music, spirituals, classical, pop and vocal jazz. Musaic released their third CD, Lyric Journey, a collection of international folk music, in 2008.

Plumbers Of Rome - While serving as court musicians/crepe chefs at the court of Charles VII in the 13th century (they were not allowed to serve as the Royal Plumbers, since plumbing was at that time considered to be a form of witchcraft) the Plumbers of Rome invented a device to hurl food and concert T-shirts into the starving peasant section of the King's Concert Hall. Adapted for military use, and named the Trebuchet, this modest invention lead the French army to many victories, as well as adding to the festive atmosphere of French wedding receptions and modern day Renaissance Festivals. While history has all but forgotten the inventors of the Trebuchet, the Plumbers are commemorated in the traditional French carol ballade de l'arme romaine aim'e de plombier.

Members:Randy Jackson, Ron Gilgamesh, Ernie Stuckowitz

TonicEffect - TonicEffect is a group of five talented musicians and truly gifted drinkers who transcend traditional a cappella roles to deliver an unexpected, exciting performance. Our modern, edgy music - including original mash-up arrangements, rotating vocal percussion and the occasional f-bomb drop - brings a new energy to the a cappella scene. Why the name TonicEffect? In addition to being a musical reference and a nod to our favorite vodka mixer, if you look up tonic in the dictionary you'll find: (tonik), adj. Lifting the spirits, boosting energy and generally creating a feeling of well-being. Not a bad goal. Plus, "TonicEffect" has a slightly better ring to it than 3 Gays, 2 Asians and a Black Chick" which is, of course, also accurate.,

Caitlin Tabancay Austin began her musical career in the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and has since enjoyed numerous opportunities to conduct at the SFGC’s annual summer camp. She holds a B.A. in Music History from UCLA, where she sang with various choral ensembles, including the Bulgarian Women’s Choir “Superdevoiche.” While living in L.A., Caitlin taught music at Kenter Canyon Elementary and performed with Vox Femina and Trio Folkestra. She is currently a member of Kitka and resides in Berkeley.

Boyd Jarrell - Singer/conductor Boyd Jarrell is familiar to California audiences through his appearances with the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, the Oakland Symphony, and the Santa Cruz Symphony. Mr. Jarrell served San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral as Cantor and Associate Choirmaster for over twenty-five years, where he trained the renowned boychoir. As a baroque specialist, Mr. Jarrell has performed with the American Bach Soloists, the California Bach Society, the Baroque Choral Guild, and the San Francisco Bach Choir. He toured with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in Handel’s Acis and Galitea, and performs frequently with the Magnificat baroque ensemble. He toured and recorded with the acclaimed conductor Paul Hillier and Theatre of Voices. He has recorded on the Angel/EMI, Harmonia Mundi, Gothic, and Koch International labels. He appeared onstage with the San Francisco Ballet, singing the music of Brahms in the George Balanchine production Liebeslieder Walzer. Mr. Jarrell is currently music director of Marin Oratorio and Director of Choral Activities at the College of Marin.

Marie Lyons has been listening to and collecting music crossing many genres for over 50 years. Currently she is co-host of the Human Voice show on KKUP as well as a fill-in DJ in the Eclectic Department at radio station KKUP.

Ken Malucelli, award-winning composer and native San Franciscan, is a charter member of San Francisco Boys Chorus, 18-yr. veteran of San Francisco Opera, 9-yr. veteran of Lamplighters Music Theatre, and Founder/CEO of Prince/SF Productions artist management and representation, now in its 32nd year. Establishing A Cappella Central (div. of Prince/SF) some years ago, he has helped coordinate bookings for most of the international celebrity artists on that roster: Take 6; the Nylons; Rajaton; the Persuasions; Rockapella, plus many of its fine national artists; and last year brought Denmark's stellar group, Basix, over for its U.S. debut. He also has been manager or exclusive agent for the EDLOS, the House Jacks, m-pact, Talk of da Town, the Mighty Prince Singers and the Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers (world’s largest costumed caroling org.: tmocc.com). He has executive produced CD’s for Kai, m-pact, the House Jacks, the Gospel Girls, the Mighty Prince Singers and MOCC; and has had works commissioned and/or performed by both San Francisco Opera and Symphony Choruses, Symphony Silicon Valley Chorus, San Francisco Boys and Girls Choruses, Pacific Mozart Ensemble, Golden Gate Mens Chorus, San Francisco Choral Artists and others, and recorded, amongst others, by Chanticleer, including that group’s internationally acclaimed theme song, “King Chanticleer.” His latest project, “Oh Mr. Sousa!”, an original musical biography on "The March King," tours the national fine arts market...and of course contains an a cappella number.

Eric Morris is a founding member of the renowned male a cappella quartet, the EDLOS, and has sung first tenor with them for 20 years; in their first year of existence the EDLOS won first place and audience favorite and Mr. Morris also won that same year for best original arrangement at the Harmony Sweepstakes. Eric has been a tenor soloist with such diverse groups as the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet, Pocket Opera, Marin Opera, Canada Opera Piccola and many others. A graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Eric was the tenor soloist for the first annual Sing-it-Yourself Messiah at the SF Opera House. Six years ago, Eric became a faculty member at Notre Dame de Namur University, teaching private voice lessons, vocal performance, opera workshop, and music skills lab. He is also an avid bicyclist, accordionist, tennis player, banjo player, horticulturist and, most recently, touchstyle guitarist.

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Interested in Competing?

We are always seeking groups who would like to compete in our events.

Groups of any style are welcome, but you must have between 3 and 8 members. We have a rule book which explains many of the details of the event, which you can see by clicking here. All groups must audition in order to compete. Generally this is done by sending a current tape and photo, although live auditions are sometimes arranged. The purpose of the audition is to make sure the group is appropriate for the Festival and to help the Director determine the performance order. If a group has competed previously, the audition process may be waived.